The field of psychology is enriched by a broad spectrum of theoretical frameworks, each offering distinct perspectives on human behavior, cognition, and emotion. These theories, underpinning all psychological research and practice, are essential for understanding the complexities of human mind and behavior. They range from the analysis of individual personality traits to the dynamics of social interaction, the process of cognitive development to the management of mental health disorders. The exploration of these theories illuminates our understanding of the human experience, providing valuable insights into the way we think, feel, and act.

From Attachment theory to Zone of Proximal Development, the following alphabetical list provides a snapshot of the diverse range of theories in psychology, each contributing unique and valuable insights into our understanding of the human mind and behavior.

A

Achievement Motivation Theory

Actor-Observer Bias

Affect Theory

Altruism

Anchoring Bias

Anxiety

Attachment Theory

Automaticity

B

Behaviorism

Big Five Personality Traits

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

Brain Plasticity (Neuroplasticity)

Bystander Effect

C

Catharsis

Classical Conditioning (Pavlovian Conditioning)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Cognitive Evaluation Theory

Cognitive Load Theory

Cognitive Mapping

Cognitive Theory (or Cognitivism)

Collective Unconscious

Confirmation Bias

Counterconditioning

Criterion Validity

Cultural Relativism

Culture

Curiosity

D

Depression

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) Theory

Drive Theory (or Drive-Reduction Theory)

Dual Process Theory

Dynamic Systems Theory (in the context of developmental psychology)

E

Ego Defense Mechanisms

Emotion

Empathy

Endowment Effect

Enlightenment

Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Theory

Expectancy Theory

Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation

F

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

Flow/ Flow Theory

Forgetting Curve

Framing Effect

Fundamental Attribution Error

G

Gambler’s Fallacy

Genetic Memory

Goal Setting Theory

Graphology

Gratification Theory

Gratitude

Grief

Group Dynamics

Group Polarization

Groupthink

Growth Hormone (GH) and Behavior

Guilt

Gut-Brain Axis

H

Halo Effect

Hawthorne Effect

Hedonic Adaptation

Heuristic

Hindsight Bias

Humanistic Psychology

Hypnosis

I

Illusory Correlation

Implicit Attitude

Implicit Memory

Ingroup and Outgroup

J

James-Lange Theory of Emotion

Just-World Hypothesis

K

Kinesthetic Learning Style 

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

L

Latent Learning

Learned Helplessness

M

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Memory

Mindfulness

Mirror Neurons

Mood Congruence

N

Negative Reinforcement

Neuroplasticity

Normative Social Influence

O

Object Relations Theory

Observational Learning

Operant Conditioning

Overjustification Effect

P

Perception

Placebo Effect

Positive Psychology

Projection

Prospective Memory

Psychoacoustic

Psychodynamic Theory

Q

Quantitative Psychology

R

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

Reciprocal Determinism

Regression Analysis in Psychology

Reinforcement Theory

Repression

Resilience Theory

S

Self-Determination Theory (SDT)

Social Cognitive Theory

Social Identity Theory

T

Theory of Mind (ToM)

Transactional Analysis (TA)

U

Uncanny Valley

Unconscious Mind

Utilitarianism in Psychology

V

Vicarious Learning (Observational Learning)

Variable Ratio Schedule (Reinforcement Schedule)

W

Weber’s Law (Weber-Fechner Law)

White Bear Problem (Ironic Process Theory)

Wisdom of Crowds

Working Memory Model

X

X-System and C-System

Xenophobia

Y

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Youth Development Theory

Z

Zeigarnik Effect

Zeitgeber

Zero-Sum Bias

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)